PPP strongly condemns Durrani’s arrest, termed it ‘attack’ on sanctity of SA

KARACHI (92 News) – Sindh Chief Minister’s Adviser on Information Murtaza Wahab and Pakistan Peoples' Party (PPP) leader  strongly condemned Durrani’s arrest and termed it an ‘attack’ on the sanctity of the Sindh Assebmly (SA). Speaking to the journalists, Wahab said, “What message are you trying to convey by arresting a sitting speaker? If any of our members have been involved in corruption then conduct an inquiry against them but do not arrest them like this.” Lashing out on the federal government, he asked that whether NAB laws are only for PPP. “Are there different rules for PPP and different for PTI? Prime Minister Imran Khan, Defence Minister Pervaiz Khattak and NA Speaker Asad Qaiser are all facing NAB inquiries but have not been arrested,” he questioned. Barrister Murtaza Wahab questioned the legitimacy of Durrani’s arrest. “Durrani is already facing inquiries. How can someone be arrested before their crime is proven?” said Wahab. He also accused the federal government and NAB of colluding to target political opponents. “The prime minister, National Assembly speakers and several federal ministers are also facing NAB inquiries. Will they be treated in the same manner as opposition leaders have been over recent months?” Stating that “an inquiry is ongoing against Durrani and nothing has been proven”, Wahab said, “How can you arrest someone when a case hasn’t been proven against them?” He continued, "The speaker should have been sent a questionnaire and he would have answered it." “Such arrests won’t make any difference. People of Sindh have voted for PPP and will stand firmly by us,” he asserted. The PPP leader also urged courts to take notice of the arrest. “When a fake party cannot win votes it resorts to such tactics,” he said.

NAB arrests Agha Siraj Durrani

Earlier today, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) court granted three-day transit remand of Sindh Assembly Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani. According to the reports, the NAB Karachi team arrested Agha Siraj Durrani from Islamabad and shifted to the Rawalpindi NAB office. After some hour, the SIndh Assembly speaker was presented to the accountability court where the court granted three-day transit remand. During the hearing, the NAB requested to grant seven-day transit remand; however, Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Bashir granted three-day transit remand and said that the accused will be presented in Karachi within three days. It was also reported that the Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) leader was taken into custody from a five-star hotel in Islamabad. Durrani has been arrested in a case pertaining to owning assets beyond his known sources of income. Last year, NAB had initiated three separate inquiries against Durrani over funds embezzlement and disproportionate assets charge. The anti-graft watchdog had summoned the speaker several times to appear before the anti-graft watchdog body for interrogation in the case, however, Durrani failed to comply with the order which led to his arrest by NAB today. On July 20 last year, the anti-corruption body had ordered an inquiry on charges of corruption against the Sindh Assembly speaker.